Hundreds more are missing. Fighting rages. It's been ongoing for days. Civilians are caught in the middle. Perhaps well over 1,000 died. Expect many more to perish.

Northern provinces are affected. Aleppo, Idlib and Raqa are hard hit. So are Hama and Homs. At least 16 suicide attacks occurred. Dozens were killed. More die daily. Syria remains a cauldron of violence.

On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius lied, saying:

"It's the regime of Bashar al-Assad that is feeding terrorism. We must bring that regime to an end."

"There is no solution to the Syrian tragedy apart from a political solution. And there is no possibility to achieve (it) if Geneva two does not take place."

Geneva I ended in failure. Washington and other opponents demanded he must go. They demand he go now. They do so illegitimately.

On Sunday, John Kerry discussed prospects for Middle East peace. He addressed Syria. He blamed Assad for Obama's war.

"There is an urgent need for the Syrian regime to implement its obligations under the UN Security Council Presidential Statement," he said.

"We believe it is possible for the regime to (cease fighting) before Geneva - local ceasefires if necessary - a ceasefire with respect to Aleppo, and send the signal that they are prepared to set a different mood, a different climate, a different stage for the possibility of success in Geneva."

"They have the power to do that. And the opposition has pledged that if they will do that. The opposition will live by it."

Washington is directly involved in supplying lethal aid. It's been doing it all along. It's coming cross border from Turkey and Jordan. Israel is supplying weapons. CIA and US special forces are directly involved.

"The conference will not take place because of the US," he said. "Washington cannot get rid of the heavy pressure from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They are not interested in finding a solution to the Syrian issue," he added.

"There are almost no chances this conference and even holding it can succeed," he said.

"Assad needs 4-6 months (more fighting) maximum. After that there will be no opposition in Syria. And no need" for peace talks, he believes.

At the same time, he thinks Geneva II can achieve something positive. Geneva I failed by demanding Assad must go.

Friends of Syria countries demand it now. Doing so runs counter to what most Syrians wish. Peace remains a convenient illusion.

Expect conflict without end to continue. It's virtually certain without Iran's involvement to end it.